A documentary that airs on BBC One at 9pm tomorrow evening makes interesting viewing for anyone who travels to work on either four or two wheels.

Titled The War on Britain’s Roads, the programme investigates the often-volatile relationship between motorists and cyclists as they try to co-exist on our streets.

Before I watched a preview of the documentary last night, I was concerned that it might be another anti-motoring tirade, but in fact it is very balanced.

Cyclists, van drivers, cabbies and car drivers speak candidly about their experiences of other road users. We hear about cyclists who ride through red traffic lights – "because it was green for pedestrians" – and see worrying footage of drivers using iPads on the move.

The interviews are interspersed by footage from ‘helmet cams’, which an increasing number of cyclists are wearing to record the near-misses they have with motorists and the occasional abuse they receive. The footage is compelling and terrifying in equal measure, not least the Glaswegian who has a near-death experience with an inattentive HGV driver on a roundabout.

It is clear that the cyclists are not completely without fault. To me, a couple of the show’s main pro-cycling protagonists come across as excessively antagonistic towards other road users. It seems to me that some two-wheeled vigilantes relish going out of their way to propagate conflict and film it on their helmet cameras.

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Most, however, come across as sensible, grown-up folk who just want to get from A to B without having their lives put in danger. The prevailing message that comes out of the programme is that most cyclists and motorists are keen to harmoniously co-exist, but the antics of the minority cause bad feeling on both sides.

In my view, the programme is also evidence that bicycles should carry registration plates in the same way that all other vehicles on the road do, as well as factory-fitted lights to a proper, EU-specified standard.

While motorists who commit minor transgressions can be identified on traffic cameras via their car registration plates, cyclists can get away with similar offences in anonymity, a disparity that contributes to the tension between the two groups.

The War on Britain’s Roads broadcasts on BBC One at 9pm on Wednesday 5 December

Join the debate

...just like most motorists are, and indeed quite a lot of us ride and drive depending on our mood and the task at hand. Of course there are twits on both sides, also a few dangerous twits who need locking up; but as we saw yesterday the number of motorists in London has fallen dramatically, the number of cyclists is on the rise, and recognising that for most city journeys bikes make a lot more sense than motorcars drivers need to wean themselves off the cherished notion that the roads somehow belong to them and that bicyclists are annoying interlopers.

Yep , this true,but, if your in the City all day, your always aware of some courier veteran who has no regard for anyones safety,the cyclist has a deadline to get his delivery on time,also, there Van person, who zips about also on a deadline, the question......who breaks the law most?, and what should be done about it?

"While motorists who commit minor transgressions can be identified on traffic cameras via their car registration plates, cyclists can get away with similar offences in anonymity, a disparity that contributes to the tension between the two groups."

Really? Minor transgressions? What are they then? Motorists are upset because they can be identified whent they COMMIT AN OFFENCE? Putting aside the relative potential consequences of a 1.5 tonne vehicle commiting a "minor" transgression, to a bicycle, shouldn't the motorist really be concentrating their thoughts on not commiting the transgression at all?

Given that the overwhelming majority of cyclists are also motorists (in the order of 90%+), I would suggest that the ones getting most exercised about being picked on for these "minor transgressions" are probably not among the majority of cyclists that drive, and should probably spend a bit of time doing so. Maybe then they'll get a bit of perspective, and be a better motorist for it.

The Col raises a good point . As a cyclist I know pretty much all the stupid stuff cyclists do and avoid doing it myself and as a driver its vice versa .

The big problem is how vulnerable you are as a cyclist on the road to a small motoring "mistake" .

Not sure if there is the progression in personal transport that existed when I was a lad . Skint so walk everywhere get part time job cycle everywhere get fulltime basic job ride everywhere on motorbike get married and kids drive everywhere . Later in life buy a bike that costs near as much as a small car and ride as much as poss .

Now it seems to be ferried everywhere in Mums taxi drive everywhere in car purchased by parents ........

Very true part of my experience as a cyclist is cyclists that go way too fast in town areas overflowing with pedestrians . I would (as a pedestrian) definitely not want to be hit by some cyclist doing 20 -25mph when the cyclist is totally silent and the rider could be a 16st Rugby player .

Matt I can assure you there is a great deal of animosity on our byways and bridleways as well cyclist v ramblers v horseriders but thats another story.....just dont get hit by 2 charging Dobermans . I can assure you it hurt a lot . The dogs were fine and only "mucking about" .

@Old Toad "Matt I can assure you there is a great deal of animosity on our byways and bridleways as well cyclist v ramblers v horseriders but thats another story"

It is not really another story, but really gets to the nub of the issue. While some motorists see cyclists as their bette noire, so do some cyclists see some pedestrains as such, and so on.

The real point is, as road users, we all need to share the space, whether we are driving, riding, cycling, or walking across, and should all do so cosiderately and with due regard for safety, your own, if not others. Blogs entitled "Motorists versus Cyclists", programmes named "The War on Britain's Roads" and use of language, such as, motorists = minor transgression while cyclist = offence, really does not help the debate.